Top 10 50 Cent songs that define his legacy

Appearing on the scene around the early 2000s with a fusion of street realness and crossover appeal, Curtis James Jackson III, also known as 50 Cent, inscribed himself within the hip-hop scene almost immediately. His first album, Get Rich or Die Tryin' , introduced not only a new talent but also changed the era's sound.

By sewing together grit and commercial brashness of beats, 50 Cent created lyrics based on his real-life experience, growing up in South Jamaica, Queens, which addressed the grind and mentality of a hustler.

A hit with Dr. Dre and Eminem catapulted him to global stardom. It was, however, his aggressive charisma, relentless work ethic, and knack for creating catchy hooks that sustained him. Apart from the music, he has benn an astute businessman and a forceful personality in cinema and television.

At the heart of his legacy, however, is his discography, a gritty, unvarnished history of survival, perseverance, and conquest that continues to appeal to fans across the world. After the commercial success of Get Rich or Die Tryin', 50 Cent stayed on track for establishing himself within the rap music scene with offerings such as The Massacre (2005) and Curtis (2007), both of which produced top-of-the-charts and club-frying single offerings.

Tracks like Candy Shop, Just a Lil Bit, and I Get Money indicated his ability to move from sheer street narratives to radio material without losing his swagger. As each step of his music was taken came also his place in the game; not only did he gain popularity for his big personality, but he also gained praise for adapting with evolving trends without sacrificing the overall elements of his music.

Even as younger artists went on to thrive, 50 Cent's image was yet to reign supreme over the lifestyle of others when it came to G-Unit, and as the standard of street credibility and inspiration in hip-hop.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

Here are the top 10 50 Cent songs of all time

When it comes to the sound of early 2000s hip-hop, few artists provided anthems as iconic as 50 Cent. His catalog is full of songs that capture all sides of his artistry, from grimy street tales to glossy, club-ready hooks. The following 10 songs are the peak of 50 Cent's career, blending raw storytelling with chart-topping potential.

These songs not only testify to his melodic ear and lyrical intelligence but also bear witness to the gritty realism that made him a cultural touchstone. Either form, either revisiting his classics or hearing them for the first time, these songs are a living part of hip-hop tradition.

1) Disco Inferno

Disco Inferno, which in 2005 debuted as the first single from 50 Cent's sophomore release, The Massacre, captured the hectic, club-saturated sound that characterized much of mainstream rap in the mid-2000s. Thumping over a thudding beat and hypnotic bassline with prophetic production by hip-hop icon Dr. Dre, the song was a club favorite and party anthem in the making.

Lyrically aggressive and in-your-face, the single goes all out for the rapper's signature swagger and arrogance, mixing his street-bred aesthetic with an undeniable pop sheen.

Peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, not only did it contribute to his increasing list of singles success, but it also received a nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 2006 Grammys, solidifying him further in critics' and businesses' minds.

The sole elevated element of Disco Inferno is the seamless blending of clubbing and street-gang machismo, teaching Cent how to dominate the airwaves without sacrificing his unfettered, raw vocals. The single is among his best to date, reflecting a moment in his existence wherein his songs soared on and off the charts.

2) Just A Lil Bit

Just A Lil Bit, from the 50 Cent The Massacre album, reveals another facet of the rapper, one that becomes seductive and braggadocious, but never sacrifices his trademark toughness. The song rides on a spare, trance-beat that allows 50 Cent's charm to radiate, with equal doses of charm and street swagger in his verses. Its hook is so sharp, it comes into your head simultaneously, celebrating his talent for taking over the clubs and the charts as well.

While its other edgier-angled anthems speak to its tougher, grittier side, this one dances along a cleaner, more syncopated sound, showing off the range he brought to hip-hop in the mainstream during its prime. Just A Lil Bit was not just your regular of 2000s club fare, but a song that established 50 Cent as a crossover hit-maker without sacrificing the snarling.

3) Many Men (Wish Death)

Many Men (Wish Death) is still one of 50 Cent's most violent and emotionally intense songs, a glimpse into the paranoia and trauma caused by his close encounter with death. Instead of celebrating street violence, the song confronts it, with 50 Cent expressing the burden of betrayal, survival, and the continued threat of death.

50 Cent performs at BC Place (Image via Getty)

The glacial doom mode production kicks up to an intense level, and his naked lines slice with cold precision. Improved over a cut on Get Rich or Die Tryin', the album is a benchmark in his canon, where pain meets power, and vulnerability bleeds into revenge.

4) Hustler's Ambition

Released as the first single off the Get Rich or Die Tryin' soundtrack in 2005, Hustler's Ambition became a introspective turn in 50 Cent's style of narration. Sampled from the soul hit I Need You by Frankie Beverly & Maze, the song ditches the posturing for an introspective view of transitioning from street-level survival to stardom.

Recording artist 50 Cent (Image via Getty)

Whereas he tends to unleash his trademark brash delivery, 50 Cent uses here a cooler, quasi-confessional tone, one consistent in design with the narrative trajectory of his character in the semi-autobiographical movie.

The song is notable for its emotional substance and cinematic feel, with fans learning more about the mentality of an artist who created his empire from scratch. Hustler's Ambition is not just a soundtrack track, more like a personal mantra in a smooth, soulful song.

5) If I Can’t

If I Can't, one of the best singles from 50 Cent's 2003 hit album Get Rich or Die Tryin', takes swagger to anthem-building proportions. Dr. Dre co-produces the song on top of a threatening beat that keeps up with 50 Cent's unapologetic trash-talking and refusal to give in. The verses are more daring than braggadocio — if he can't do it his way, forget it.

Recording artist 50 Cent visits Capitol Hill (Image via Getty)

The single represented his either-or mentality and solidified the underdog lore that fueled so much of the initial success. One of the gems of the production by Dre on the disc, If I Can't, reflects 50 Cent's hunger and gamble-taking attitude that propelled him to hip-hop's upper echelon for the millennium.

6) P.I.M.P.

P.I.M.P. is one of 50 Cent's biggest singles, and it describes the uncontrollable personality in humor and braggadocio. The single was produced by Mr. Porter, who mixed an unstoppable, free-wheeling beat with East Coast and West Coast hip-hop beats to produce a broadly popular, irresistibly filled song.

Even the title is cocky in its excess of power, money, and attitude, a combination that drove 50 Cent's initial success into overdrive.

The single, the third cut taken from Get Rich or Die Tryin', was not only a commercial success but a phenomenon. Number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and with nearly 700 million YouTube views, P.I.M.P. has been one of 50 Cent's biggest and most lasting songs.

With its hook, smooth delivery, and in-your-face, egotistical words, the record became an anthem for a generation and cemented 50 Cent as hip-hop royalty.

7) Candy Shop feat. Olivia

Taken up as the second single from The Massacre (2005), Candy Shop with Olivia was a chart hit in the making, showing 50 Cent's capacity to deal with suggestive lyrics and hook-laden melodies. The song employs a sly but naughty Candy Shop metaphor to describe temptation and excess, and a suave, confident delivery by 50 Cent with sensual backing vocals by Olivia.

This combination created a tawdry environment that was popular with listeners, and it was a gigantic commercial success. The hook-ridden beat of the song, combined with its naughty and explicit content, made the song a hit.

Backed by behemoth labels, G-Unit Records, Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope, Candy Shop was supported by some of the most powerful players in the industry, so it is one of 50 Cent's best-standing tracks.

8) 21 Questions feat. Nate Dogg

21 Questions with Nate Dogg is one of Cent's better songs on Get Rich or Die Tryin' and one of his few moments of weakness. It is the antithesis of the majority of his other work, which is typified by graphic street narratives.

It is a ballad concerning love, loyalty, and trust, which are complicated things. With a soulful, throbbing beat, Cent constructs a series of introspective queries, revealing a more sensitive side to his otherwise macho image.

Smooth, signature vocals from Nate Dogg provide another dimension of emotion to the song, imbuing it with an intimate, authentic sound.

21 Questions is the ideal display of 50 Cent's ability as a songwriter to pen songs that contain something with an emotional depth to them, as proof that he was indeed able to transcend beyond his braggadocious persona to pen items that were closer to him as an individual and on a greater scale.

9) In Da Club

When In Da Club landed on store shelves in 2003, it didn't just dominate the charts, it remade the sound of hip-hop overnight. With Dr. Dre's bare-bones, hi-gloss production and 50 Cent's easy ride, the single was a cultural upheaval.

The lyrics went around the globe and became a catch-all phrase, propelling the single to party anthem, club anthem, and radio hit in the following years.

At the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival (Image via Getty)

It wasn't just the hook or the beat that made it sell, though, but Cent's delivery of hitting the balance between bluster and precision and ending up with something raw and yet cross-over. In Da Club was not only a number one hit, it was also a crossover sensation that solidified 50 Cent's position as the representative of a new generation of hip-hop.

10) Window Shopper

Released in 2005, Window Shopper is a glitzy portrait of Cent during his moment of triumph, boasting and ironic as he brags about coming from a hustler to a mogul. Rather than merely wallowing in riches, the song speaks to those looking in from the outside, coveting a lifestyle out of their reach, cementing 50 Cent's status as a provocateur and symbol of acquisitive luxury.

50 Cent performs in Berlin (Image via Getty)

The hypnotic beat and catchy hook render the condescending message of the song that much more effectiveness, elevating what could otherwise have been a simple diss record into a general comment on jealousy, ambition, and triumph.

It is this intersection of street credibility and radio-friendly swagger that allowed 50 Cent's persona of the day, and it is what makes Window Shopper one of the catchiest tracks in his discography.

50 Cent's recordings are a testament to a career founded on determination, ambition, and tough instinct, for survival and sound. His records document the street-level rawness of his origin, the swagger of his ascension, and the attitude of a man who converted adversity into dominance.

From angry street corner anthems to club hits, his discography represents a fusion of grit and polish that defined an era in hip-hop. Whether dropping a deadly verse or a hook, 50 Cent has always remained faithful to his voice. In turn, this not only makes his music popular but also highly influential. His tracks still resonate as blueprints for lyrical truth and commercial success.